The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 3

The police told me to call the 26th precinct. Might as well take care of that.

"Hello, my name is Paul Jacobs. I was at the Johnson Theater yesterday and the police officers told me to call the precinct today," Paul said.

"Mr. Jacobs, thank you for calling," the officer said. "I am Officer Mark Yellen. First, I'd like to get basic information about you." The officer took Paul's contact information and background about his job. "Now I'd like to know why you were at the conference."

"Well. I was scheduled to give a presentation later that morning, right after Frank." Paul's voice cracked and he paused. "Sorry, I'm pretty upset about what happened to Frank." I can't even say the word killed.

"I understand, sir."

"Also, I was a co-author of the paper that Frank was presenting just before me."

"I assume you are referring to Frank Wilson? Who else? So, Mr. Jacobs you knew Mr. Wilson pretty well?" That sounded ominous. Where is this going?

"Yes, we were colleagues at the UN Statistics Division and worked closely together on a few projects including the one he was discussing at the conference later in the morning."

"How would you say you and Frank got along, Mr. Jacobs?" Now this is getting scary. Am I a suspect?

"We were business associates and occasionally met after work with others, but I wouldn't say we were close."

"Well, that's all for now. Thank you Mr. Jacobs for your cooperation. I would like to schedule you for an in-person interview." Is it routine to have me come in for an in-person interview? Probably, since I knew Frank, and I was also a presenter at the conference. They couldn't suspect me of anything could they?

"When would it be?"

"We have 10 am today. Then we don't have any openings until Thursday afternoon."

"This is very short notice but the 10 am appointment would work for me. I live close by. It is at the NYPD 26st precinct station?"

At the 26th precinct station Paul approached the plain concrete exterior as Maria stormed out. She slammed the crash bar so the glass door swung hitting the rubber stop and burst through the door.

"Well, hello Maria," Paul said. She looks like she's been crying. Paul noticed her casual, simple white top and black pants that highlighted her long slender legs. She wasn't carrying anything but her purse that whirled away from her nearly hitting Paul when she barged out.

"I just finished my interview," Maria said, snapping at Paul like he'd done something wrong. "This is really too much. Can we talk after you finish?"

"Sure, I'll have some time before I need to go back to work. Josey's Cafe is just down the street around the corner on Amsterdam. Maybe you'd like to wait there and I'll join you when I'm done."

"That sounds good. I'll wait for you there."

Paul continued into the police station and let the desk clerk know he was there for his appointment. The clerk told him he would meet with detective Jaylon Lewis. Several other people were in the waiting in the area. They must have been in the theater too? He joined them taking a seat along the wall in one of the uncomfortable hard wooded chairs. A few minutes later a clerk came out and announced his name. Paul followed him through a maze of offices with interviews underway and down a hall where a detective was waiting.

Jaylon Lewis was a large black man, at least 6'3'' and 250 pounds, with gray highlights in his short cut hair. He wore a casual blue suit and multicolor tie rather than a police uniform.